California's Denham wins re-election to Congress

WASHINGTON (Nov. 8, 11:55 p.m. ET) — Plastics industry player Jeff Denham easily won election Nov. 6 to a second term as a U.S. representative from a different district.

In unofficial results, Denham, 45, a Republican, was credited with receiving 80,885 votes or 53.8 percent of the total votes cast in the newly reapportioned 10th congressional district of California. His opponent, Democrat José Hernández, received 69,336 votes or 46.2 percent.

Records indicate the candidates and their backers may have expended more than $12 million into what became decidedly negative campaigns for the two-year term.

The new 10th district within the large agricultural-production-rich Central Valley of California includes Stanislaus County and a portion of San Joaquin County.

In 2010, Denham received 65 percent of the votes in his election in the old 19th congressional district. He succeeded retiring eight-term Republican incumbent George Radanovich. Previously in California, Denham was a member of the state senate from 2002-2010 and the assembly from 2000-2002.

Denham and Mike Hutchings co-own Denham Plastics LLC of Salinas, Calif. They formed the business in 2000.

As a distributor, the firm sells agricultural and garbage bins, pallets and totes to end users and rents containers for requirements during transitional crop seasons.

An intense July 26 fire damaged a leased storage yard and warehouse unit that Denham Plastics had occupied since 2004. With operations disrupted, Hutchings said, “We are still looking for a good spot” to relocate the business.

In another venture, Denham and his family farm almonds at a ranch in Merced County.